RakeTheRake, the rakeback professionals, offering up to 60% rakebackRakeTheRake, the rakeback professionals, offering up to 60% rakeback
(Don't forget to clear your cookies before clicking either link - Tools, Internet Options, Clear Cookies)
If signing up for an account with RakeTheRake as a result of this blog, please state 'referred by 'RTR17009' in the extra info box and email me at bitterandtwistedindividual@fsmail.net with the last 3 digits of your RTR account number. That way you'll earn me a referral bonus on top of your rakeback and help me to finish my challenge just that little bit quicker, and I'll be able to identify you for percentages in my WSOP seat at 75% of cost price when the time comes (see 'Sharing the challenge love', Jan 2008)......
Many thanks!!

*Note added 5/1/08 - Should I complete the challenge and, lo and behold, cash in the Main Event, 10% of my profit goes to Macmillan Cancer Support via http://www.stoneyandfriends.co.uk/

Sunday 7 September 2008

Anybody know where to find.....

.....Full Tilt hand history from within my hard drive? I have no idea lol!!


Anyways, had another little go (around 200 hands) last night while Mrs SG was out painting the town red, and having put the little 'un to bed at about 9pm a quick 0.10/0.25 deep stacked cash session was in order.

About half an hour in, one of my favourite types of players joined the table. You know the sort, limps any two cards every single hand, checks when he hasn't hit, bets small with a marginal hand, bets big with a decent hand and refuses to fold a pair once he's invested a few cents into the pot? I love this kind of opponent, as it suits my playing style on a cash table down to a tee. Wait, wait, wait, hit a big hand and let 'atc man' hang himself. My opportunity came around an hour into the session, when I was involved in a three-way pot with a 3bb early position raiser, atc man flat called and I also flat called from the big blind with 7c 5c. A rainbow flop of A75 put a wry grin on my face, and a check to early raiser saw him putting in a half pot bet. Flat call from atc man, I'm hoping he's got a weak ace and put a 3 x check raise to find out if early position raiser is just continuation betting. A quick fold tells me what I need to know, but atc man again flat calls. Bingo. safe-ish card (Jack) on the turn so I out in a half pot bet myself, flat call from atc man, cool beans, I've got him by the nads, my two pair is looking good here for certain. A deuce on the river and I'm home and dry, or so I thought. A 3/4 pot sized $15 bet was quickly raised all in to make a total pot of $108 should I call, and I was left scratching my head. No flush or straight possibility, maybe he's got a strong Ace and thinks it's good? Maybe he's flopped a bigger two pair or a set and has caught me out, wp gg? I'm certainly thinking there's a good chance that my 7s and 5s are good so put the call in, only to see oppo is holding A2. D'oh!! To add insult to injury, atc man then proceeded to leave the table almost instantly. Nice!!

I decided at that point to stand up, make myself a stiff whisky and coke and have a bit of a breather. Now that I only play one table I can do this whenever I like and find it really helps to keep things on a level head, rather than stewing over happenings while playing multiple tables. A few minutes, some deep breaths and a replenished stack later, I sat back down and continued the session. Fortunate enough to hit pocket Aces, 7s and 2s and 4 hands, flopping a set with both the 7s AND 2s (whoop!!), I also pulled a couple of daring (but properly thought out) bluffs and managed to end the session with a profit of $17.75, not ground-breaking but it could so easily have been a loss of $50!!

It's sessions like this that restore my faith in my own ability (I'm not good at poker, but I can certainly play the game to a fair level) to overcome adversity and make a steady dollar here and there as long as I keep a level head. I think that is the biggest flaw in my game by far, sometimes I just go off the rails and pull silly moves that are very unlikely to get through. if I can keep that under wraps, I'm halfway there!! Rakeback on Full Tilt definitely needs to be sorted out, I'm liking the software, the liquidity and the vast range of playing styles on there, it is certainly keeping me on my toes whenever I play. Onwards and upwards!! I'm hoping to delve into the world of 0.25/0.50 relatively soon, still micro-stakes by most people's standards but when you've only got a bankroll of $200, it's needs must!!

Until next time, be lucky!!